The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has enacted new standards for cooling water intake structures at new and existing facilities as part of implementing Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act. The rules for existing electrical generating stations apply to facilities that: (1) use at least 25 percent of their cooling water for non-contact cooling; (2) are required to have an NPDES permit; and, (3) have a design intake of 50 MGD or greater. The new EPA rules require that applicable facilities reduce impingement of fish and invertebrates on the travelling screens by 80 to 95 percent and entrainment of organisms that pass through the cooling water system by 60 to 90 percent, using Best Technology Available (BTA). At the same time, facilities must still meet requirements of the Clean Water Act section 316(a) that cover potential ecological effects of power plant thermal discharges.
Netting barriers can be designed to meet the 316(b) requirements of fish/marine organism entrainment and inpingement. PNP's barrier netting systems will meet BTA alternatives.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has enacted new standards for cooling water intake structures at new and existing facilities as part of implementing Section 316(b) of the Clean Water Act. The rules for existing electrical generating stations apply to facilities that: (1) use at least 25 percent of their cooling water for non-contact cooling; (2) are required to have an NPDES permit; and, (3) have a design intake of 50 MGD or greater. The new EPA rules require that applicable facilities reduce impingement of fish and invertebrates on the travelling screens by 80 to 95 percent and entrainment of organisms that pass through the cooling water system by 60 to 90 percent, using Best Technology Available (BTA). At the same time, facilities must still meet requirements of the Clean Water Act section 316(a) that cover potential ecological effects of power plant thermal discharges.
Netting barriers can be designed to meet the 316(b) requirements of fish/marine organism entrainment and inpingement. PNP's barrier netting systems will meet BTA alternatives. 